3 Afghans killed in riots over Quran burnings

Originally published February 23, 2012 at 12:00 am
Updated February 23, 2012 at 6:12 am

Afghan demonstrators shouts anti-US slogans during a protest against Koran desecration in Kabul on February 22, 2012. At least 11 people were wounded when shots were fired into a crowd of demonstrators trying to march on the city center to protest the burning of copies of the Koran by NATO troops. The US embassy in Kabul declared it was on lockdown and Afghan police said they were dispatching reinforcements to stop an angry mob, torching cars and attacking shops, from marching into the center of the capital.

Afghan police have shot and killed three protesters in two separate incidents in the north and south of the country where riots broke out during demonstrations over this week's Quran burnings incident.

Afghan police have shot and killed three protesters in two separate incidents in the north and south of the country where riots broke out during demonstrations over this week’s Quran burnings incident.

The police say one protester was fatally shot and four people were wounded, including two police officers, when security forces and some protesters exchanged gunfire during a riot on Thursday outside the police headquarters in the northern province of Baghlan.

Police say another two protesters were killed and six were wounded in another exchange of gunfire during a protest in southern Uruzgan province.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – NATO says a man wearing an Afghan army uniform has turned his weapon on coalition troops, killing two service members.

NATO says the incident occurred on Thursday in eastern Afghanistan. No other details were disclosed.

The shooting is the latest in a rising number of attacks on NATO troops by Afghan police and soldiers or militants dressed in their uniforms.

The attacks have raised questions about the vetting of Afghan recruits and has heightened tension between foreign troops and their Afghan partners.

Last month, France suspended its training program and threatened to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan a year ahead of schedule after an Afghan soldier shot and killed four French soldiers on a base in the east.